Mixed reviews for Small Business Saturday

Many downtown business owners reported seeing increased foot traffic on what was dubbed Small Business Saturday, following holiday and Black Friday shopping sprees, but while most were confident that the 2012 shopping season will beat 2011, few saw the hectic shopping rush commonly associated with Thanksgiving at chain and big-box outlets.

Most open for special hours or with extended sales, downtown retailers took part in a national movement to recognize Saturday as a day to shop locally, with national advertising and local efforts focusing on small businesses in their hometowns.

While the national ad campaigns, like one provided by American Express credit card, got small business in the forefront of shopping minds, the downtown square was busy with sales and foot traffic.

Saturday business and foot traffic varied, with business owners reporting anywhere from a “dead” Saturday at a downtown antique shop to “a great kick off” of the holiday shopping season.

Sieren’s Palace was one of the downtown businesses that was open Saturday, with the day overall “going great,” said owner Herb Sieren.

“Sales were above last year, we were thankful for that and it kicks off the season,” Sieren said.

King’s Appliance hosted a Friday sale, opening for a four-hour window and did more in sales that day than on its usual eight-hour day Saturday, said owner Dan Lammers.

“The weekend was very good,” he said. “They were both good days.”

With optimism, Lammers said 2012 is on pace to surpass 2011 with 2008 and 2009 marking recent low points in sales.

“We did a lot of advertising for our sale and people recognize we have deals,” he said. “It’s good and our numbers are up for the year.”

Hidden Treasures owner Sherry Stacey said while she appreciated the concept of celebrating small businesses and encouraging residents to shop locally, she lamented the fact her day came between Black Friday and Cyber Monday when online sales are generally held.

“Not sure if small business day should be the Saturday after Black Friday,” Stacey said. “Who’s idea was that? To hit people with three shopping days in a row?”

But Stacey noted that this shopping season is topping 2011 and that she always stays positive.

“We’re certainly doing better than 2011, we weren’t tooting any horns last year,” she said.

Rinehart’s owner Karl Hildebrand said he did not believe any sort of sale or incentive would truly compel shoppers to look locally rather than flock to Columbia, Ottumwa or beyond for the big box deals and bargains.

“It’s not ever worth worrying about as a small store,” he said, adding that he’s experienced fewer items being brought in for sale than in previous years, something he believes signals a bottoming out and stagnation of the local economy.

With one of those big box retailers - Walmart - less than two miles away from the downtown square, the retail giant and its below-cost sales and thousands of shoppers could make local retailers nervous, but Sieren noted that if it weren’t for the Kirksville location, shoppers would be headed elsewhere.

“I’m glad Walmart is here and they’ll bring people to the community,” he said. “If it were 30 miles away, those communities would see that boom. And we capitalize off the small towns in the area.”

With the Thanksgiving shopping season over with, many of the retailers were looking to the next 30 days leading up to Christmas, with Kirlin’s Hallmark store manager Wilma Yates expressing optimism.

“Saturday was a busy day,” she said. “It’s been good and we’re hoping for better.”